3.8

M3.8 Earthquake 36 km S of Sand Point, AlaskaSeptember 23, 2023

2023-09-23 20:38:15 UTC (2023-09-23) · approx. 9:38 AM UTC-11 local

MagnitudeM3.8(ml)
Time20:38 UTC9:38 AM UTC-11
Depth40.5 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates55.007°, -160.447°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 23, 2023 at 20:38 UTC, a magnitude 3.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 36 km S of Sand Point, Alaska, at a depth of 40.5 km and coordinates 55.0068°, -160.4471°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 7.6 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 252 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 55.01°, -160.45°

ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity

Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.

USGS ShakeMap intensity contours for the M3.8 earthquake near 36 km S of Sand Point, Alaska

Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.8 ml
Depth
40.5 km
shallow crustal
Location
55.0068°N
-160.4471°E
Intensity (MMI)
2.2
weak

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000kxpw
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
222
Stations Used
30
Azimuthal Gap
202.0°
Min Station Distance
0.344°
RMS Residual
0.59 sec
Last Updated
2023-12-02 23:01:11 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.8 earthquake near Sand Point, Alaska?

The magnitude 3.8 earthquake that struck 36 km S of Sand Point, Alaska on September 23, 2023 at 20:38 UTC had a depth of 40.5 km. For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.8 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000kxpw). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, September 23, 2023). M3.8 Earthquake 36 km S of Sand Point, AlaskaSeptember 23, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000kxpw/